Monday, May 7, 2012

How Molly Lou Mellon Made Me Cry

R-E-S-P-E-C-T:

I wasn't planning to post tonight . . . I've been trying to only post every other day, BUT last night I gone an e-mail from Maria at Be the Difference and knew that I just had to link up with her Make a Difference linky party.

This week's theme is respect. I wanted to share a book with you that I refer to often in my classroom to teach respect and tolerance. Many of you probably know and love this book.

Molly Lou Mellon is a quirky, remarkable girl who never lets life get her down. Oh, the world tries to take her down, but with some good advice from her Grandma she takes life by the horns! She is extremely short, has wonky teeth, and can't carry a tune in a bucket but the kids at her new school are eventually able to embrace her because she is talented in other ways.

Here is an okay video of this story from You Tube:

Hanky at the Ready:

This book is actually special to me in more ways than one. I am tearing up right now just thinking about how this book came to me.

I found Molly Lou at my local thrift store last year. I have never heard of this book before and it looked really cute. I opened it up in the store and some papers fell out. One of them was a letter in an envelope, it was addressed to "Grandma" from a girl in South Carolina.

I immediately teared up. I knew that this book probably belonged to someone who had passed away, because I remembered that a lot of my own Gramma's things went to good will after she passed.

I wish that I could find the letter right now to show you but it is jumbled up in some papers. :/ But in the letter the girl thanked her Grandmother for being the voice in her head always believing in her and giving her good advice, she said that this book reminded her of her and that she couldn't wait to visit soon.

By this point I am trying to hold in the tears. Then, a postcard falls out, it is from her grandson who had written to say that he loved her and missed her.

My own Grandma died in 2004 but sometimes the pain of losing
her still feels just as fresh. I know that those of you who have lost someone
will know what I mean. For days after I bought this book I would think about my Grandma and cry.

Every time I read this book to my class I remember the special lady who once owned it. I will always take care of this book, in memory of this Grandmother that I didn't know and mine who I knew and loved and who loved me. :)

Thanks for sharing that story! Good books at a thrift store are fantastic enough, but yours is a real treasure. I lost my grandma almost 6 years ago, but really even earlier than that due to dementia. I love to find old notes she wrote me, and I understand that grandmother/granddaughter bond.

Awe, aren't Grandma's the best! I love when I find notes or dedications in books that I pick up second hand. It really makes me stop and think about the people who owned the books before me!JulieLight A Fire in Third

YAY for linking up with Maria!! LOVE Molly Lou Melon . . . and your post about it! Books that evoke emotion in us are KeePerS, especially when there's a Grandmother involved in any way, shape, form, or fashion. Thanks SO much for sharing.

Thank you for linking up. Your story made me cry! I really appreciate you sharing and being a part of Make A Difference Mondays. You have already made a difference in MY LIFE by posting this story. Thank you. Maria

Thanks for sharing this story. I also found this book at a thrift store and loved its sweet message. The fact that your book had those notes and letters made it extra special. Thanks for telling us about it!